THE tokens of blessing which the; Lord so graciously gave Mr. and Mrs. Judson we may be sure cheered and encouraged them. Still not one of the few who were, they had reason to believe, really interested in the things of God, had openly confessed their faith in Christ.
"The Emperor," they told Mr. Judson, "would not allow any of his subjects to give up the old religion, and would be sure to punish with imprisonment or perhaps, even death, any who refused to take part in a great yearly feast held in honor of their idols.”
Sometimes Mr. Judson thought it might perhaps be best for him to set out on a long journey to the Court, try to obtain an interview with the much-feared Emperor, and ask his leave for any who wished to become Christians, to own Christ as Lord and Savior, by receiving baptism. But just then his hands were so full of work that he could not feel sure that it was the will of God he should leave Rangoon, even for a few weeks.
So he worked on, hardly allowing himself time for exercise or sleep, till the hot season set in, and he became so ill as to be unable to sit at his desk. His head ached badly, and the strange-looking letters, of which told you in a former chapter, seemed to dance before his tired eyes every time he tried to write or read even a few lines.
The doctor said he must have rest and change of air. The cool sea-breezes were what he needed, it was thought, to give him fresh strength and energy for work. So after united prayer, it was decided he should take a short holiday and go for a sea voyage, hoping to return in three or four weeks.
He left Rangoon in a native ship, hoping to return by the same vessel. More than five months, however, had passed before Mr. and Mrs. Judson were permitted to taste the joy of meeting. But you will wonder what made Mr. Judson stay away from home so long, when his presence there seemed so greatly needed.
The vessel had only been out at sea a short time when a contrary wind obliged the captain to alter his course. Very bad weather followed, and Mr. Judson, who seemed to get worse instead of better, was far from having a good time as he lay sick and weary in the close, ill-smelling cabin. For many days he had been too ill to go upon deck. The vessel was two months in making a voyage that in fine weather would not have taken more than ten or twelve days, and all on board suffered much from want of proper food, a very small quantity of broken, moldy rice being the daily allowance served to each. The supply of drinking water, too, was so scanty that poor Mr. Judson was never able to get enough at one time for a really good drink, parched as he was by fever.
At last the vessel cast anchor in a small bay, and the captain asked Mr. Judson if he would not like to be carried on shore. "The shore, the land!" he replied feebly, as if it were almost too good to be true. And then rousing himself, he took a pencil in his trembling fingers. Who was he going to write to in a place where all were strangers to him? He really did not know; but it must have been a cheer to remember that he had a Father in heaven, One who knew all about the need of His child. So just asking Him to guide his note into the hands of the right person, he wrote a few words telling how sick and tired he was, and bade one of the crew take it to any Englishman he could find living on shore.
An hour or two passed, and one of the sailors came below to tell him that a boat was putting off from the shore. He just managed to crawl to the window of his cabin, and to his great delight saw the boat was rowed by two men; both looked like Englishmen, one wore the uniform of a British officer. Judson could only weep tears of joy and thank God. In a little while the visitors were on board, and in after years Mr. Judson often spoke of the great kindness he received from these strangers, not only as an answer to prayer, but also a precious proof of the shepherd care of the Lord for His own. (John 10:44And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. (John 10:4).)
Good nursing and better food did much good for the sick missionary. But he was many miles from home, and we can picture to ourselves how much he longed to be there once more. He had no means of sending a letter or even a message to his wife, and could not help feeling anxious on her account. Still, though sharply tried, he was enabled to say in the words of David, "I will trust, and not be afraid.”
After an overland journey of three hundred miles he reached Madras, where he hoped to find a ship about to sail for Rangoon. But two long months had to be spent by him in waiting before one was ready to leave the harbor.
Mrs. Judson must have been a good deal puzzled to understand why his return had been so long delayed. Before many days the husband and wife, who had been so strangely parted, were not only to meet, but to unite in praise to their ever gracious God for every step in the way He had led them.
Mrs. Judson had not been without her trials. Three months after her husband had left Rangoon, an order had been received from the government commanding Mr. Hough, who had gone to help Mr. Judson in his work, and was, as you already know, the mission printer, to appear at the court-house and give account of the books he was making.
It was even said that the Emperor had made up his mind to send all foreign teachers out of the country. Mr. Hough attended and was received in a way that showed him the minds of those in office were filled with a desire to put a stop to the printing and circulation of Bibles.
It must have been a time of very real sorrow to that little band of Christians; but it was to God, who is a very present help in trouble (Psa. 46 I), they turned in their hour of need. Though the wife of the Viceroy, who had been so kind to Mrs. Judson, did all in her power to get some change made in the order, matters grew worse daily, till at last Mr. Hough decided to embark with his wife and children on board a ship going to Bengal. They were very anxious that Mrs. Judson should go with them, telling her it would not be right or kind to leave her with her baby girl alone in the deserted mission-house.
Mrs. Judson was very unwilling to leave Rangoon, but at last yielded to the wishes of her friends, and went with them on board ship. The captain said it would take several days, perhaps a whole week, to get out to sea. Day by day poor Mrs. Judson grew more restless and unhappy. Added to her anxiety about her husband was the fear that she had acted wrongly in leaving Rangoon. She could not feel sure that the Lord was with her in the step she had taken. It must have been a great relief when the captain, who was detained owing to repairs, consented to send her ashore in a boat. Tearful good-byes were said; then taking her infant in her arms she returned to the old house, feeling less lonely and friendless than she had done for many days, for her heart was resting in the secret strength and gladness of communion with Him who hath said, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." (Heb. 13:55Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Hebrews 13:5).)
A few days after her return she was joined by Mr. Judson. The meeting must indeed have been a joyful one.
Two young men, who wished to help in the glorious work of making Christ known to the heathen, joined the mission about this time, and Mr. Judson, who spoke the language almost as well as if his whole life had been spent in Burmah, asked and received permission from the Viceroy to build a zayat, or native hut, where he hoped the Lord would give an open door for preaching the gospel. It would also serve as a meeting-place for any who wished to receive books, or to have the way of salvation through faith in Christ explained to them.